91 Points- Connoisseurs' Guide
Golden yellow with perfect clarity, this clings to the glass after a good swirl displaying its viscous moving legs. Fresh, tropical notes of pineapple, kiwi, and peach followed by melon, lime and fresh apple on the palate. Exceptionally long, this wine’s crisp and balanced acidity makes it the perfect pairing with filet of sole, pork loin and savory goat cheese.
Vintage
High rain fall at the beginning of the season, a mild winter, and then finally transitioned into a beautiful spring. There was an early bud break and flowering, followed by sunny days and high temperatures through June and August.
Vineyard
This Sauvignon Blanc grapes in our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards in the southern tip of Napa Valley, near San Francisco Bay. The clay soils retain water, allowing us to dry farm, and the coolness slows ripening and retains acidity. The grapes develop a crisp liveliness that is impossible to achieve in warmer areas. About 80% of our Sauvignon Blanc is planted to the Musqué clone, which provides elegant floral aromatics. All farmed all our vineyards naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and they are certified organic.
The Wine
Relying on naturally-occurring yeasts, they fermented a portion of the grapes in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, with the remainder in oak barrels. Then aged the wine for six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels. On the nose, the wine displays fresh, tropical notes of pineapple, kiwi, and peach followed by melon, lime and fresh apple on the palate. The wine’s crisp and balanced acidity makes it the perfect pairing with filet of sole, pork loin and savory goat cheese.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Napa Valley Estate
Harvest date: Aug. 25 - Sept. 4, 2017
Sugar: 22.5 Brix (average)
Fermentation: indigenous yeast
Total acid: 7.9 g/L
pH: 3.12
Aging: 6 months on lees inneutral barrels
Type of oak: French oak; 10% neutral barrels, 90% 900-gallon casks
Bottling date: March 2018
Release date: January 2020
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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